What should YOUR kids watch? We rate the Easter holiday movies for every age group

WITH the April school holidays now upon us, our cinemas have been swamped by a rush of titles geared towards younger audiences.

As always, parents are encouraged not only to include their children in the decision-making process of what films to see, but also to monitor how youngsters respond to what is on the screen.

Have a chat with the kids afterwards, and ask what they did or did not like about the picture. Take note of their observations, and adjust your choices for future cinema trips accordingly.

And now, on with the show(s) .... have fun!

THE CROODS (PG, 103 min)Who? The voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan ReynoldsWhat? Animated adventure. When their cave is destroyed, the world's first prehistoric family must journey across dangerous territory in search of a new home.Well...? The clear top pick of the holiday new releases across all age groups, even if it seems like it's just an Ice Age with humans replacing animals. The story is surprisingly involving, the intra-family squabbles are amusing, and the quality of animation is stunning (particularly in 3D).Which age group? :Under 5yo ***5yo - 8yo ****9yo - 12yo ****13yo+ ***1/2

ADVENTURES IN ZAMBEZIA (G, 94 min) Who? The voices of Leonard Nimoy, Abigail Breslin, Samuel L. JacksonWhat? Animated adventure. An ambitious young falcon ventures to the city of Zambezia, a bustling metropolis of birds that is home to a legendary band of daredevil flyers.Well…? This South African-made cartoon will be best enjoyed by very small children still acclimatising to the cinema experience. Story is fast-paced and easy to follow, and the simple slapstick comedy will have 'em laughing. Older kids will be bored to tears.Which age group?Under 5yo ***1/25yo - 8yo ***9yo - 12yo **13yo+ *

ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH (PG, 89 min)Who? The voices of Brendan Fraser, Ricky Gervais, Jessica AlbaWhat? Animated adventure. Astronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet.Well...? Every holidays, there is one sub-par release that is making up the numbers. This messy, noisy and soulless affair has little to recommend it. Visuals are an eyesore, the voice cast sound disinterested and a story worth remembering is nowhere to be found.Which age group? :Under 5yo *1/25yo - 8yo **9yo - 12yo **13yo+ *

JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (M, 114 min) Who? Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregorWhat? The classic fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk re-imagined as an action blockbuster. Young Jack must rescue a fair princess from the land of giants, high in the clouds.Well...? Though steeped in fantasy and based on famous bedtime stories, films like this - which often stack on the dark, foreboding stuff - are best avoided by anyone not yet in high school. Goes over quite strongly with a teenage audience.Which age group? Under 5yo *5yo - 8yo *1/29yo - 12yo **1/213yo+ ***

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (M, 110 min) Who? Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing TatumWhat? Sequel to the action box-office hit G.I. Joe. The elite G.I. Joe fighting squad must fight for their survival when the US President officially banishes them from the military.Well...? As this very violent franchise is based on a line of toys, there is a danger some parents may allow children to see this inappropriate effort, no questions asked. Don't make that mistake. The body count is high, and the IQ levels are low.Which age group?Under 5yo *5yo - 8yo *9yo - 12yo *13yo+ **

JURASSIC PARK 3D (M, 127 min) Who? Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff GoldblumWhat? Re-release of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster. When a theme park suffers a major power breakdown, its exclusive collection of cloned dinosaur exhibits run wild.Well...? Twenty years on, the original Jurassic Park is still a thrilling and entertaining experience. Kids 9 and above who can handle the rough stuff (those dinosaurs are vicious, remember) will not be forgetting this in a hurry. 3D upgrade worth the extra surcharge.Which age group? Under 5yo *5yo - 8yo **9yo - 12yo ***1/213yo+ ****

RETURN TO NIM'S ISLAND (G, 88 min) Who? Bindi Irwin, Matthew Lillard, John WatersWhat? Sequel to the 2008 children's hit, based on the books by Wendy Orr. When a runaway lands on Nim's Island, a band of seafaring poachers are not far behind.Well...? The bad news? Markedly inferior to the original. The good news? Little kids who love animals and want to learn more about the critter sciences will love all the nature on display. As G-rated as a film can get these days. Appeal drops away steeply after age 10.Which age group? :Under 5yo ***1/25yo - 8yo ***9yo - 12yo **1/213yo+ *

FIRST POSITION (G, 94 min) Opens APRIL 11Who? Aran Bell, Miko Fogarty, Michaela DePrinceWhat? A documentary that follows six young dancers as they prepare for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world.Well...? Parents should be made aware this is a great choice for older offspring with an interest in the arts. Better still, this engaging and absorbing doco delivers the goods to adults as well. Recommended.Which age group? :Under 5yo **5yo - 8yo **1/29yo - 12yo ****13yo+ ****

OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (PG, 130 min) Who? James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel WeiszWhat? A prequel to Frank L. Baum's The Wizard of Oz, in which a dodgy travelling magician from Kansas propelled by prairie tornado to the fabled land of Oz.Well...? While no match for the brilliant 1939 film starring Judy Garland, there is still great imagination and good times to be found here. Only downside is the two-hour-plus running time, which will get the better of impatient younger viewers.Which age group? :Under 5yo **1/25yo - 8yo ***9yo - 12yo ***1/213yo+ ***

GODDESS (PG, 103 min) Who? Laura Michelle Kelly, Ronan Keating, Magda SzubanskiWhat? Australian-made musical. A British housewife living in Tasmania achieves worldwide fame through the music videos she broadcasts from her kitchen webcam.Well...? The bright'n'bouncy song'n'dance sequences are sure to appeal to anyone with a love for all things musical. A sub-plot about certain marital problems will go straight over the head of children, which is the right way to go about such things.Which age group? :Under 5yo **5yo - 8yo **9yo - 12yo **1/213yo+ ***

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